Happiness Duo

Happiness Duo

　　Happiness Duo

　　This pastry is a traditional variety from Hangzhou’s Zhiweiguan. It is served in pairs for a festive meaning, hence the name Happiness Duo.

　　Ingredients:

　　2 kg premium wheat flour, 250 g pork lard, 500 g red adzuki beans, 250 g cooked walnut kernels, 175 g candied dates, 125 g roasted pine nuts, 150 g raisins, 125 g green plums, 125 g preserved kumquats, 125 g preserved carrot slices, 125 g candied red melon, 25 g osmanthus sugar, 1.3 kg white sugar, 100 g cooked lard

　　Preparation method:

　　1. Dice the pork lard, mix with 50 g of white sugar, and blend into sweetened lard cubes.

　　2. Rinse the red adzuki beans to remove dirt and impurities, then place them in a pot with 1.5 liters of water. Boil over high heat first, then simmer

　　for 3 hours (until soft). Drain into a colander placed over a large basin, and rub the beans by hand while pouring 2.5 liters of cold water through the colander to separate the bean paste from the skins (continue until only skins remain in the colander). Let the paste settle in the basin for 15 minutes, then drain and transfer to a cloth bag to squeeze out excess moisture.

　　3. Heat a wok over medium heat, add 100 g cooked lard and 1 kg sugar. Stir continuously with a spatula until the sugar and lard are fully dissolved, then add the bean paste. Keep stirring to evaporate moisture until the mixture turns brownish — this is the refined fine bean paste (about 1.5 kg).

　　4. Dice the candied dates, candied red melon, walnut kernels, preserved kumquats, preserved carrot slices, and green plums into 3 mm cubes. Mix with pine nuts, raisins, 250 g sugar, and osmanthus sugar to make an eight-fruit mixture.

　　5. Mix the flour with 1 liter of water (temperature adjusted by season: 50°C in winter, 40°C in spring/fall, 20°C in summer). Take a portion of the dough, mix with an equal amount of yeast dough, add baking soda (dissolved in a little water), and knead thoroughly to form fermented dough. Divide into 50 portions, roll each into a 6 cm diameter round with a thick center and thin edge using a rolling pin. Wrap in the bean paste, sweetened lard, and the eight-fruit mixture. Seal the edges, then press into molds measuring 8 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 4 cm deep to form the Happiness Duo buns.

　　6. Line a steamer tray with wet cloth, place the buns in the steamer (4 per tray), and steam over high heat for about 5 minutes.

　　Product features: Thin, soft skin with rich, oily filling. Can be eaten hot or reheated by steaming.